Get ready for a sonic revolution, music lovers! New Order's iconic albums are getting a futuristic makeover, and it's about to change the way you experience their sound. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a purist's nightmare or a fan's dream come true? Movement, Low-Life, and Brotherhood are set to be reissued on Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos mixes by the legendary Steven Wilson, offering a 3D audio experience that promises to immerse you in the band's post-punk and synth-pop masterpieces like never before. And this is the part most people miss: alongside these cutting-edge releases, Power, Corruption & Lies will also receive a 2CD reissue, ensuring that fans can revisit these classics in multiple formats.
The Blu-ray editions are a treasure trove for audiophiles, featuring not just the Dolby Atmos mixes but also 5.1 surround sound, 96/24 PCM stereo mixes, and instrumental stereo versions for each album. But here's the catch: the multi-track master tapes for Brotherhood's ‘As It Was When It Was’ and ‘Broken Promise’ have been lost to time. These tracks have been up-mixed from the 2024 remaster, aiming to replicate the Atmos and DTS-HD 5.1 surround experience as closely as possible. Will it satisfy the die-hard fans, or will it fall short of expectations? That's a debate for the comment section!
Each album's CD2 is packed with extras culled from the Definitive Edition box sets, released between 2019 and 2024. These include demos, writing session recordings, and rehearsals that offer a glimpse into the band's creative process. Highlights include Michael Johnson’s 12-inch remix of ‘Blue Monday 1988’ on Low-Life and Stephen Hague’s mix of ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ on Brotherhood. Power, Corruption & Lies even features a John Peel session, while Low-Life and Brotherhood include different versions of the unreleased track ‘Skullcrusher’. But here's a point of contention: while the audio extras are included, the visual components from the Definitive Edition Blu-ray discs—live performances and TV appearances—have been omitted from these audio-only Blu-rays. Is this a missed opportunity, or a necessary trade-off for a more focused release?
The Definitive Edition box sets, originally released as 2CD+LP+2Blu-ray packages, are now stripped of their vinyl components, though all four albums were reissued as standalone LPs in September. New Order’s most recent album, Music Complete, dropped in 2015, with the standalone single ‘Be A Rebel’ in 2020 marking their latest studio output. While the band has continued to perform live, their last shows were part of a US tour that wrapped up in May.
Mark your calendars: Movement, Low-Life, and Brotherhood will hit Blu-ray shelves on 5 December 2025, with 2CD deluxe editions of all four albums releasing the same day. Pre-orders are already live, and you can secure your copy via the SDE shop or major retailers like Amazon. But before you click 'buy,' we want to hear from you: Are these reissues a must-have addition to your collection, or do they tread too far into unnecessary territory? Let the debate begin in the comments below!
